Fees & Billing

Fee Structure

Different fee structures apply for different services and appointment length. Please contact reception to obtain further information on fees and billing.

We are not a bulk billing practice and therefore payment is required at the time of consultation and can be made by cash or debit/credit card. Please note that internet bank deposits are not accepted.

A $50 deposit and credit card authorisation is requested to secure your initial appointment.

Please note: you don’t not require a referral or third party funding to attend our clinic.

Financial Hardship

If you are experiencing financial hardship please contact our administration team.

***We are not a bulk billing clinic. Please talk to reception regarding fees.

Dietitian rebate: $58.30
Psychology rebate: $58.30

What is a CDM?

A Chronic Disease Management (formerly Enhanced Primary Care or EPC) can be provided to individuals with a chronic medical condition that has been (or is likely to be) present for six months or longer. At River Oak Health, you can use a CDM plan for our dietetic and/or psychology services.

Eligible patients may access Medicare rebates for a maximum of 5 allied health services (total) in a calendar year - these plans expire on December 31st each year. However, if all services are not used during the calendar year in which the patient was referred, the unused services can be used in the next calendar year and will be counted towards the five rebates for allied health services available to the client during that calendar year.
Whether a patient is eligible for CDM services is a clinical judgment for the GP, taking into account the patient’s medical condition and care needs, as well as the general guidance set out in the MBS.

Patients who have a chronic medical condition and complex care needs and are being managed by their GP under a GP Management Plan (item 721) and Team Care Arrangements (item 723) are eligible for Medicare rebates for certain allied health services on referral from their GP.

CDMs and other care plans

If you have more than one care plan in place, please note that services under other care plans count towards the total services a person can have under their EDP. If you are accessing care under a Mental Health Treatment Plan or an Eating Disorder Management Plan, it is essential that these mental health and/or dietetic sessions are included in the total number of mental health and dietetic sessions accessed under the EDP.

- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 715 Health Check (additional 5 sessions)

If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and have a Medicare card, you can get a free health check every year. If you have a chronic condition, your health check can help make sure you are getting the medication and care you need. You can also ask your doctor about anything you’re worried about or need help with. You can have a health check every 9 to 12 months, and it’s free at any Aboriginal Medical Service or bulk-billing clinic.

After your health check, your doctor can refer you to up to 10 subsidised follow-up services if needed, like:
• a specialist or another health service
• a counsellor
• a service that works to prevent chronic conditions
***We are not a bulk billing clinic. Please talk to reception regarding fees.

Registered Psychologist rebate: $92.90
Clinical Psychologist rebate: $136.35

A mental health treatment plan lets you claim up to 10 rebatable sessions with a mental health professional each calendar year. A mental health care plan also makes your treatment more affordable, by allowing you to claim your appointments on Medicare. A Mental Health Treatment Plan is available to you if you have a mental health disorder diagnosed by a doctor.

At River Oak Health, you can use a MHCP plan for our psychology services. Please note, our Social Worker and Art Therapist are not currently covered under Medicare, however their fees have been reduced to match the out of pocket expense for psychology services.

Important notes for clients under an MHCP

• After the first 6 sessions, you’ll need to check in with your doctor to access the remaining 4 sessions, if you need them. We recommend waiting until your 6th session has been completed before visiting your doctor for a plan review.

MHCPs and other care plans
If you have more than one care plan in place, please note that services under other care plans count towards the total services a person can have under their EDP. If you are accessing care under an Eating Disorder Management Plan or a Chronic Disease Management Plan, it is essential that these mental health and/or dietetic sessions are included in the total number of mental health and dietetic sessions accessed under the EDP.
***We are not a bulk billing clinic. Please talk to reception regarding fees.

Psychiatrist rebate: $267.45
Registered Psychologist rebate: $92.90
Clinical Psychologist rebate: $136.35
Dietitian rebate: $58.00

What is an EDP?

On 1 November 2019, the Australian Government introduced a number of new MBS items for people living with an eating disorder. The changes are relevant for medical practitioners (including GPs, psychiatrists, and paediatricians), and eligible psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, and dietitians. The information on this page is sourced from the Quick Reference Guide for Eating Disorder MBS items.

Who is eligible for an EDP?

1. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of anorexia nervosa; or
2. Patients who meet the eligibility criteria (see below) and have a clinical diagnosis of bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED) or other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED).

People living with anorexia nervosa are eligible for an EDP without any further criteria needing to be met.

The eligibility criteria that need to be met for a person with a clinical diagnosis of BN, BED & OSFED, are:

• Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) scores ≥ 3 and
• The condition is characterised by rapid weight loss, or frequent binge eating, or inappropriate compensatory behaviour as manifested by 3 or more occurrences per week

Two of the following indicators are present:

• clinically underweight with a body weight less than 85% of expected weight where weight loss is directly attributable to the eating disorder
• current or high risk of medical complications due to eating disorder behaviours and symptoms
• significant functional impairment resulting from serious comorbid medical or psychological conditions
• admission to a hospital for an eating disorder in the previous 12 months
• inadequate treatment response to evidence-based eating disorder treatment over the past 6 months despite active and consistent participation.

Development of an EDP

A medical practitioner in general practice (e.g., GP), consultant paediatrician, or consultant psychiatrist can develop an EDP and determine patient eligibility. We recommend booking in with a medical practitioner that is eating disorder informed and it is preferable if they have undertaken additional mental health training.

If your medical practitioner is not familiar with Eating Disorder Management Plans, we suggest they review the Inside Out website, undertake the foundational e-learning courses available and utilise the resources provided (including the GP EDMP template). Alternatively, If you don’t have a GP, contact the Butterfly Foundation Helpline on 1800 33 4673 and they can check if there’s a GP in your area with an understanding of eating disorders.

Important notes for clients under an EDMP

The plan is valid for 12 months (365 days) from the date of issue (date signed by GP and patient). Clients will not be eligible for a new plan until 12 months have lapsed.

Dietetic sessions:

You will have access to up to 20 rebatable dietetic visits - no GP reviews required.

Psychology sessions:

You will have access to up to 40 rebatable psychology visits - reviews required after every 10 sessions.

• After 10 sessions, a review by the GP is required to access the next 11-20 sessions.
• After 20 sessions, a GP and Psychiatrist/Paediatrician review is required to access the next 21-30 sessions.
• Note: The specialist review by the Psychiatrist or Paediatrician can occur at any point before the 20th session, we suggest you book in with one of our Psychiatrists for this review when you engage in our services to avoid treatment disruption.
• After 30 sessions, the GP conducts the third review to access the last 31-40 sessions.
• After 40 EDPT sessions, the course of treatment has been completed.

EDPs and other care plans

If you have more than one care plan in place, please note that services under other care plans count towards the total services a person can have under their EDP. If you are accessing care under a Mental Health Treatment Plan or a Chronic Disease Management Plan, it is essential that these mental health and/or dietetic sessions are included in the total number of mental health and dietetic sessions accessed under the EDP.
Medicare Safety Nets can help to lower your out of pocket medical costs for out of hospital services.
2024 Medicare Safety Nets thresholds
Original Medicare Safety Net (OMSN)
• $560.40
• 100% of the schedule fee for out of hospital services.
Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN)- General
• Threshold amount:$2544.30
• 80% of out of pocket costs or the EMSN benefit caps for out of hospital services.
Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) - Concessional and Family Tax Benefit Part A
• Threshold amount: $811.80
• 80% of out of pocket costs or the EMSN benefits caps for out of hospital services.
Medicare will automatically keep track of your progress towards the benefit for individuals. However, to receive this benefit as a family, the family must be registered for the safety net. Please click here for a link to the form to register a couple or family for the Medicare Safety Net. For more info contact Medicare on 1800 011 163, or visit their website.

GP Management Plans

People living with an eating disorder can access treatment through either an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan (EDMP), Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), and/or Chronic Disease Management Plan.

Please read over the different types of GP Management Plans below.

River Oak Health supports Veterans via DVA in our clinics and via our telehealth services Australia-wide.
Clients intending to claim through DVA must book with a Medicare registered practitioner in order to access funding. Our Dietitian’s, Clinical Psychologists and Registered Psychologists are eligible for DVA service funding.
How to access our services:
- If you hold a DVA Gold Card or a White Card (condition specific) then you can access our services.
- Obtain a D904 referral from your GP. The referral can be made out to River Oak Health.
- Once you obtain the D904 referral call 1300 240 127 to make an initial booking.
- All Veterans with an eligible D904 are bulk billed.
ROH is not registered as an NDIS provider, however we can still work with self managed and plan managed NDIS clients. All clinicians can see NDIS clients.
- Notify reception that you will be accessing NDIS funding for your sessions when making an initial appointment
- Confirm if you are plan managed (invoice directly to NDIS plan manager) or self managed (client pays invoices and organises reimbursement).
- When completing your new client registration forms, please ensure to complete the NDIS section and provide all relevant information.
Please note, we do not have a Hicaps terminal in clinic and are unable to process your claims on your behalf. Once your appointment fee has been paid, admin will issue you with a receipt via email to provide your insurer.
We are unable to confirm your gap payment as private health varies across each insurance company and individual cover. Please contact your private health insurer directly if you have any inquiries regarding your cover.

Third Party Payments

We accept third party payer arrangements.

Cancellation Policy

Non-attendance and appointment cancellations received with less than 48 hours’ notice will be billed a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the scheduled consult fee. Please note, administration must be notified of a cancellation within business hours, we do not accept cancellations over the weekend.

This policy is in place because your clinician has already invested time in preparing for your session, and without sufficient notice, it is unlikely that we can fill your appointment to cover our costs and wages. While we have a waitlist for services, our experience is that these clients are often looking for ongoing appointments rather than one off appointments, and often find it difficult to attend an appointment at short notice.

River Oak Health offers Telehealth sessions as an alternative.

If you are unable to attend your appointment in-person, we encourage you to consider an alternative arrangement such as doing the appointment via another format (e.g., telehealth) or having another person involved in your care attend the appointment in your place (e.g., parent, partner, support person).

If you have circumstances outside of your control preventing you from attending your appointment, please call reception on 1300 240 127 or email hello@riveroakhealth.com.au at your earliest convenience.